In Week 4 of the 2025 college football season, the Idaho Vandals travel to San Jose, California, to take on the San Jose State Spartans at CEFCU Stadium. The game is scheduled for Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 5:00 PM and will be broadcast on MWN. Both teams are looking to secure their first win of the season, adding an extra layer of importance to this encounter.
The Idaho Vandals, with a current season record of 0-1, are coming off a narrow 13-10 loss against Washington State. Despite accumulating more first downs and rushing yards, the Vandals struggled in the passing game with only 33 yards. As an independent team, they aim to turn their fortunes around in this non-conference game.
San Jose State Spartans, representing the Mountain West Conference, hold a 0-2 record after losses to Texas and Central Michigan. Their most recent game was a challenging 38-7 defeat against the Texas Longhorns, where they fell short in both passing and rushing yards. Playing at home, the Spartans seek to leverage their familiar turf to secure a win against Idaho.
San Jose State vs Idaho At a Glance
- Game Venue: CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, CA
- Game Time: Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM
- TV Channel: MWN
- Idaho Vandals Record: 0-1
- San Jose State Record: 0-2
- Game Odds: San Jose State favored with -14.5 spread
San Jose State Spartans Ready to Tackle Idaho Vandals
Offensive Struggles
The San Jose State Spartans have been struggling offensively this season. With just 21 points scored, they rank 87th in the nation, showing a need for improvement. Their passing game is also lagging, with only 496 yards, placing them 105th.
The rushing attack has been a particular weak point, ranking 135th with only 160 yards. This lack of offensive production has made it difficult for the Spartans to control the game tempo.
Defensive Outlook
On the defensive side, the Spartans have been more promising. They have allowed 54 points, ranking 39th nationally, showing some ability to limit opposing offenses. Their sack rate stands at 14th, with one sack recorded so far.
The Spartans have been effective at forcing turnovers, ranking 2nd in interceptions and 5th in fumbles recovered. These defensive efforts can be crucial in turning the game in their favor.
Key Players to Watch
Quarterback Walker Eget has managed 496 passing yards, but his three interceptions are concerning. The team needs him to improve his decision-making to lead the offense more effectively.
Wide receiver Danny Scudero has been a bright spot, with 16 receptions and 255 receiving yards. His ability to make plays downfield could be pivotal against the Vandals.
Recent Game Performances
In their most recent game against Texas, the Spartans fell 38-7. The team managed only 188 passing yards and 85 rushing yards, struggling to find any offensive rhythm.
The previous game against Central Michigan also resulted in a narrow 16-14 loss. Despite a solid 308 passing yards, they couldn’t capitalize on opportunities, highlighting the need for execution in critical moments.
Team Betting Trends
- SU – As Favorite: 26-4 (86.7%) over the last 30 games.
- SU – Home Games: 22-8 (73.3%) over the last 30 games.
- ATS – Away Games: 10-2 (83.3%) over the last 12 games.
- SU – All Games: 13-7 (65.0%) over the last 20 games.
- ATS – All Games: 15-9 (62.5%) over the last 24 games.
- O/U – After Loss: 9-5 (64.3%) over the last 14 games.
Idaho Vandals: A Challenging Road Ahead
Offensive Overview
The Idaho Vandals have struggled offensively in the 2025 season, scoring just 10 points, placing them at 95th in the rankings. Their passing game has been particularly weak, with only 33 passing yards, which ranks them 208th.
The rushing attack has been slightly better, achieving 188 yards and ranking 130th. Despite their struggles, they have managed to secure 16 first downs, ranking 66th, which shows some potential for improvement.
Defensive Strength
On the defensive side, the Vandals have shown strong performance, allowing only 13 points, which ranks them second. Their ability to recover fumbles is notable, with one recovery placing them 5th overall.
Sack production has also been commendable, with one sack ranking them 14th. However, interceptions remain a concern as they haven’t recorded any, despite leading in defensive interceptions in previous seasons.
Key Players to Watch
Quarterback Joshua Wood will be key to any offensive success for the Vandals, though he has only managed 33 passing yards in the opening game. Running backs Art Williams and Elisha Cummings bring hope to the offense with 35 and 40 rushing yards respectively.
In the receiving corps, Ryan Jezioro leads with 26 receiving yards. However, the team will need more production from other receivers like Michael Graves and Tony Harste to improve their passing game.
Recent Game Recap
In their recent outing against Washington State, Idaho narrowly lost 13-10. Despite the loss, they managed to secure more first downs than their opponents, a positive takeaway from the game.
The Vandals’ defense was strong, limiting Washington State to just 13 points, but their offense couldn’t capitalize on the defensive effort. This pattern of strong defense but weak offense will need addressing in upcoming games.
Team Betting Trends
- ATS – All Games: Last 7 Games (2022–2025) → 7-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – Away Games: Last 7 Games (2022–2025) → 7-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – As Underdog: Last 6 Games (2022–2025) → 6-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – After Loss: Last 5 Games (2022–2024) → 5-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – Totals ≥ 50: Last 5 Games (2022–2025) → 5-0 (100.0%)
Idaho’s strong performance against the spread (ATS) in recent games suggests they can be a reliable pick in similar betting scenarios. However, their straight-up (SU) and over/under (O/U) records indicate room for improvement, particularly in games with higher totals.
San Jose State vs Idaho Prediction: San Jose State -14.5
San Jose State is playing at home as a 14.5-point favorite against Idaho. The Spartans have a strong track record of success as favorites, with a 26-4 record in their last 30 games when favored. This trend, combined with their 73.3% home win rate over the last 30 games, suggests they are well-positioned to cover the spread against Idaho.
Idaho’s performance has been lackluster, particularly on the road, with a 0-1 record this season. Their offensive struggles are evident, having accumulated only 10 points in their season opener, ranking 95th in points for. Given San Jose State’s defensive capabilities, Idaho may find it challenging to improve on this offensive output.
While San Jose State’s recent game against Texas ended in a loss, they have historically bounced back well from defeats, going 5-2 in their last seven games following a loss. This resilience, coupled with their ability to cover spreads as favorites, reinforces confidence in them covering the 14.5-point spread.
Overall, with Idaho’s offensive struggles and San Jose State’s strong history as favorites, expect San Jose State to secure a decisive victory. Look for a final scoreline that supports San Jose State covering the spread comfortably.
- San Jose State vs Idaho Prediction: San Jose State -14.5
- San Jose State vs Idaho Score: San Jose State 35 – Idaho 10
